Steelers hope offensive line bounces back into shape

August 11, 2004|By BRADLEY KEIM, Daily American Sports Writer

LATROBE - After a rough 2003 campaign, the Pittsburgh Steelers hope their offensive line rounds back into shape for 2004.

"We're all healthy. We have the fire together that we need to go into the season and dominate," left tackle Marvell Smith said during training camp Tuesday at St. Vincent College. "As long as we all stay healthy and continue to work hard, I don't see any reason why we won't dominate when the season gets here."

From guard Kendall Simmons' battle with diabetes, to center Jeff Hartings' knee injury and Smith's neck injury, to right tackle Oliver Ross' struggles and All Pro guard Alan Faneca's switch to left tackle, 2003 was a rugged one for the O line.

Smith said he can not envision another season as tough as the last one.

"That's something that, it can't happen, the things that happened last year," Smith said. "Everybody can learn from it. We can draw from that this season … just continue to work hard so nothing like that can even happen."

Advertisement

Simmons, who lost weight and strength before he was diagnosed with insulin-dependent, type I diabetes early during last year's camp, said things are going well for the line so far, save for the usual rigors of camp.

"Everybody's doing good," Simmons said. "The first group's going to get beat up, but it's football camp and that's part of it. Everybody's doing good. Everything's going good."

Veteran halfback Jerome Bettis, who sat out Tuesday's practice with a left thigh contusion, said the line looks strong to him so far, but it may be too soon to tell if the line has rebounded.

"It's coming along a lot better because we're starting to get some continuity and that's a good thing. Unfortunately, last year we were really banged up and that was tough on us," Bettis said.

"It's hard to see but, hopefully, we'll be pretty good. It's still early. We haven't had our first preseason game yet. In a couple of weeks the truth will be out and we'll know," he said.

Bettis said he'll know more when the Steelers open their preseason schedule Saturday in Detroit with a game against the Lions.

"You only see a little bit (in training camp) because it's not the same kind of speed. You see them doing a little bit but you don't see a whole lot. Right now's not really when you tell. You tell in game situations, so we'll know a little bit more come Saturday night."

Smith said his neck injury is no longer an issue.

"The neck thing. If I felt something wrong with it, I wouldn't even be out here, so that's the last thing on my mind," he said.

Smith, who turned 26 Friday, is entering his fifth season with the Steelers. He said the older he gets, the more he enjoys training camp and he was looking forward to this one more than his first four.

"Each year it gets easier and easier. You know how to keep your body in shape going into camp and how to sustain it throughout camp. This is my fifth one. I pretty know what to expect," he said.

"This year, I looked forward to training camp more than I ever have. That was mainly because I wasn't able to play last year. I felt like I had a lot to prove coming into this training camp so I couldn't wait to get here really."

Simmons also said he is enjoying camp now that he knows how to manage his diabetes.

"I have to make sure and keep on top of it to make sure everything is good," he said. "I'm at the point now where I know how my body feels. When my sugar's too high, I kind of feel slow and sluggish. Then, when it's low, I've got this real jittery, shaky feeling like I'm about to pass out. …

"It's almost like a nervous feeling when you're getting ready to go out in front of a big crowd. You've kind of got the butterflies, but it's probably 10 times worse."

Simmons is back to his playing weight of 300-plus pounds and said he is checking his blood sugar five to six times daily and taking insulin injections four or five times daily to manage the disease. He said his hemoglobin A1C tests, which indicate average blood sugar, have been good.

"It's cool. It's getting a lot better now," he said.

"I'm doing good with just taking shots and managing it by myself."

He said he felt fatigued at times, but attributed that to camp workouts.